Rockland's commercial fish pier awarded $830K grant from EDA

A view of Rockland's harbor. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration is awarding a $830,000 grant to Rockland to renovate the city's commercial fish pier.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $830,000 grant to Rockland to renovate the city’s commercial fish pier.The project includes repairing and resurfacing the pier, replacing fendering piles and camels, stabilizing the storage area, upgrading the electrical system and adjacent dredging to an approximate depth of eight feet at all tides. The pier supports Rockland’s lobster fleet and is also integral to the region’s tourism and hospitality businesses, the EDA stated.The renovations are expected to retain 86 jobs.The total cost of the project is projected to be $1,660,000.The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Midcoast Economic Development District. EDA funds the Midcoast Economic Development District to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.“We commend the City of Rockland for their locally led efforts to provide the infrastructure regional businesses require for growth,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord. “This project will ensure that the pier remains a key resource for the region, supporting the local commercial fishing sector.”U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine District 1, stated in a news release that the $830,000 EDA grant is matched by a $350,000 federal grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission as well as funding from the Maine Department of Transportation and City of Rockland.“The EDA is an important source of investment for Maine, which is why I have been proud to work with Appropriations colleagues from both sides of the aisle to protect its funding from being eliminated, as the Trump Administration has proposed the last two years,” Pingree stated. “The jobs this project preserves and creates shows why it’s so important to keep defending the EDA and other effective programs.”